Attorney General Files Complaint against Foreclosure
Service Providers

Baltimore, MD (October 30, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas
F. Gansler announced today that the Consumer Protection Division
has filed a complaint in Baltimore City Circuit Court against a
group of individuals and companies alleging they violated numerous
laws in the course of providing services to homeowners who were
facing foreclosure.

The complaint names
Michael K. Lewis, Earnest Lewis, Cheryl Lynn Brooke, Winston
Thomas, and two companies, In the House Technologies
based in Upper Marlboro and Cornerstone Title & Escrow based
in Laurel. The Division alleges that the defendants market their
services to homeowners who are facing foreclosure or are in foreclosure,
falsely promising that they can help save the consumers’ homes.
Instead of helping homeowners retain title to their homes, the
defendants attempt to take title and then strip the equity out
of the properties by charging the homeowners numerous undisclosed
fees.

After the defendants purportedly take the title to the homes,
they charge the homeowners rents that are substantially higher
than their previous mortgage payments. As a result, the homeowners
find it exceedingly difficult to rebuild their credit and save
amounts sufficient to retain their homes. The scheme results in
homeowners losing both their homes and the vast majority of equity
they had accumulated.

The complaint seeks
to stop the defendants’ unlawful practices
and impose fines for violations of the Protection of Homeowners
in Foreclosure Act and the Consumer Protection Act. It also was
filed to ensure that the original homeowners retain title to their
homes and to provide restitution for homeowners who were harmed
by the defendants’ actions.